Sterilization

[DrunkASAskunk]

Just wondering what people are using for Sterilization. I have used the stuff from the HBS but I dont like the price that it has on it. Just wondering if bleach would be ok and if any one on eh is using it. I cant see it being any more harm full than the gear I have been using. Just give it a good wash out after.
Thanks for any imput.

[Camikaze]

Napisan works good mate.

[blond.chap]

Nothing works pretty well for me...

Seriously though, when im doing beer I use Milton, same as is used for baby bottles.

[karrotbear]

In terms of the bleach, i have definitely read somewhere that you do not use bleach to sterilize any of the distilling equipment, esp SS and copper, as it is corrosive and very bad (please correct me if I am wrong in that regards).

In terms of sterilizing fermenters I just use an iodine solution, leave it in there for a while, empty and leave to dry. Not sure if sterilization is as important with distilling as it is for beer.

[Sam.]

Unscented bleach can be used in your fermenters just rinse them really well after.

I use a pink stain cleaner that smells a bit like chlorine but rinses well.

Once clean I sanitize with star San

[Dominator]

I clean my stuff with napisan. I dont worry about sterilising my distilling gear or fermenters, boiling and +75%ABV will kill any bugs. For my beer I serialise with idaphor, which is a iodine solution.

[DrunkASAskunk]

Thanks Guys that gives me a good heading Im going to cole's.

[Linno]

Nothing works pretty well for me...

Seriously though, when im doing beer I use Milton, same as is used for baby bottles.

:text-+1:

I used to use the pink stuff on the reccomendation of you know who - the HBS guy. I havent 'sterilized' any of my distilling gear in some time. :think:

fermenters - when finished cleaned out and rinsed with water left to dry
My BWKO has been in the fermenter for 10 months, it gets empty and then it gets full again.

still - rinse with clean water then warm water then left to dry and left under a towell till next time.

boiler - gets emptied then a rinse and clean with water and my patent pending boiler scrubber
download/file.php?id=5723&mode=view

i try and keep my stillin area clean and tidy. fingers crossed I havent had any probs with infections or the like.

[Cane Toad]

:shifty: :shifty: :shifty: :greetings-waveyellow:

[BackyardBrewer]

Starsan is great and a little will last a lifetime. Also I like the unscented home brand nappy cleaner or NappiSan.

I'm with blond.chap though. Beer brewing I sterilise everything in sight but stilling? Yeah I'm getting lazier and rougher as it just doesn't need the same amount of cleaning.

[DrunkASAskunk]

why the hell is this site logging me out every 5 minets its realy giving me the shits. Twice today I have sat down typed out a heap of shit that takes me fucking ages to do as I am not the best typer spellers around hit fuck post and then I get the fucking you need to log in shit and all my typing is lost.

[Dominator]

why the hell is this site logging me out every 5 minets its realy giving me the shits. Twice today I have sat down typed out a heap of shit that takes me fucking ages to do as I am not the best typer spellers around hit fuck post and then I get the fucking you need to log in shit and all my typing is lost.

Are you using Internet explorer? I had heaps of issues with Explorer. I downloaded google chrome and don't have any worries now.

[waza]

Hot water out of the tap is all I have used for years including beer stuff fermenters and kegs. have my hot water system dialled up to 70 degrees cut out temp, never had an infection.

[kingy]

I use napisan to clean ( unscented) I usually leave it for an hour and I'm pretty sure the water needs to be over 60°c for the sodium percarbonate to act as a cleaner.
I also use starsan it's quick and easy and cheap.
Only needs to make contact for a minute or 2 and its non rinse.

[cdbrown]

Just remember that sterilising is different to sanitising. Unless you are putting the gear in an autoclave it won't be sterile. That being said, you don't need the gear to be sterile, just clean. Sanitising helps to make sure no infections take hold especially in the early stage of ferment. My distilling gear just gets a rinse out with tap water before and after use. Fermenters get a good clean out and spray with starsan which is a no rinse sanitiser.

[Urrazeb]

My distilling gear just gets a rinse out with tap water before and after use. Fermenters get a good clean out and spray with starsan which is a no rinse sanitiser.

Pretty much the same as here though I use a bit of bleach, just a cap full and not even every time. I have got a bit lax on the cleaning and had one infection

[tipsy]

I use sodium percarbonate or sometimes bleach for cleaning.

Iodophor or starsan to sanitise.
I always sanitise my fermenters as it only takes two seconds with a spray bottle and costs 2/5ths of fuck all.

[Brendan]

I use sodium percarbonate or sometimes bleach for cleaning.

Iodophor or starsan to sanitise.
I always sanitise my fermenters as it only takes two seconds with a spray bottle and costs 2/5ths of fuck all.

I ppretty much do the same thing. Although most don't wash and sanitise their fermenters (apart from a washout with water), I don't want to risk an infection when I see the time and money that goes into creating a decent whisky wash...all that mashing and cooking...

I wash them out with sodium percarbonate (same ingredient in napisan) also, which has to be rinsed...and then use a no-rinse copper tun brewshield spray, which is just 3% peroxide and ionised water diluted down...Even when I open up my fermenters to give a whiskey wash a stir, I spray the paddle with sanitiser before it goes in. ;-)

[Kimbo]

I only sterilize when I get a new fermenter, even then its a quick rinse and a swish around with some foreshots.